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Take a multifaceted stepwise approach when deprescribing benzodiazepines in older patients

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Abstract

Benzodiazepines (BZDs) lose their benefits as anxiolytics and sedatives with longer-term use, due to the development of tolerance, as well as the development of harms (e.g. dependence, impaired cognition and other CNS effects). Older patients are at increased risk of BZD-related harms, including fractures and falls. Deprescribing BZDs in this patient population should be done slowly to avoid withdrawal syndrome, and should use a multifaceted stepwise approach.

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    The article was adapted from Drugs & Aging 2018;35(6): 493–521 [1] by employees of Adis/Springer, who are responsible for the article content and declare no conflicts of interest.

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    The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

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    Adis Medical Writers. Take a multifaceted stepwise approach when deprescribing benzodiazepines in older patients. Drugs Ther Perspect 35, 72–76 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-018-0578-z

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-018-0578-z

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